Baby bottle holder

ABSTRACT

Presented is a baby bottle holder formed from a block of polyurethane foam-type material which simultaneously retains the bottle in position for nursing a baby and thermally insulates the bottle to maintain the milk or other food product contained with the bottle at a relatively constant temperature.

United States Patent lnven tor Pansy E. Essman 2207 Cunningham Ave., San Jose, Calif. 95122 Appl. No. 817,387 Filed Apr. 18, 1969 Patented June 15, 1971 BABY BOTTLE HOLDER 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl.... 248/105 Int. Cl A47d 15/00 Field of Search 248/102, l05,104;215/100.5,100

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,451,718 10/1948 Corrao 248/105 2,451,846 10/1948 Love 248/105 3,085,612 4/1963 Gobel.... 248/102X 3,285,455 11/1966 Pewitt 248/1005 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,1 19,916 7/1968 Great Britain 248/105 Primary Examiner-Chancellor E. Harris Attorney-John J. Leavitt ABSTRACT: Presented is a baby bottle holder formed from a block of polyurethane foam-type material which simultaneously retains the bottle in position for nursing a baby and thermally insulates the bottle to maintain the milk or other food product contained with the bottle at a relatively constant temperature.

PATENTEDJUNISIQ?! 8.884.818

N IZNTOR. FAA/SE) EISMAN BABY BOTTLE HOLDER BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Modern innovations in nursing units for infants have resulted in the almost universal custom of bottle feeding of infants from the day they are born. While many innovations have been made in the nursing unit per se, few innovations have been made in the methods or means for retaining the nursing unit or baby bottle in proper position for an infant that is fed while lying in its crib. It is customary in bottle feeding an infant to support the bottle in an inclined position by inserting a rolled-up towel or diaper under the bottle so as to cradle the bottle and retain it in proper position.

One of the disadvantages of this method of supporting the bottle is that the tugging action of the infant when it sucks on the nipple tends to dislodge the bottle, with the result that the nipple is dislodged from the infants mouth and the feeding process is interrupted. Frequently, such shifting of position of the bottle amountsto no more than a tilting of the bottle so that the milk flows away from the nipple, thus causing the infant to suck and swallow air from the bottle. Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the invention to provide a baby bottle holder that will securely support the baby bottle in proper position of use and prevent its being dislodged by the tugging action of the infant'as he nurses.

Modern day nursing units such as collapsible containers and conventional baby bottles also possess the disadvantage that the milk within the nursing unit is not insulated from the ambient atmosphere, thus resulting in a loss of heat from the milk, reducing its palatability and in some instances causing intestinal discomfort for the baby. Mothers customarily wrap a soft towel or diaper about the bottle to prevent such loss of heat. Such wrapping increases the diameter of the bottle, making it awkward to support the bottle in proper position of use. It is therefore another object of the invention to provide a baby bottle holder that thermally insulates the entire container from the ambient atmosphere so as to maintain the milk at substantially constant temperature throughout the feeding interval.

Despite the many innovations that have been made in connection with infant feeding and infant nursing devices, the tendency persists for milk from the container to dribble down the check of the infant or to drip from the nipple when the nipple is dislodged from the infants mouth. Such spillage soils the bedclothes, creates an unpleasant odor, and frequently initiates a skin rash if not washed away from the baby's tender skin. Accordingly, it is a still further object of the invention to provide a baby bottle holder which is provided with means for absorbing any such spillage that might occur.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE In terms of broad inclusion, the baby bottle holder of the invention conveniently comprises a monolithic block of polyurethane foam formed to provide one side having a flap extension adapted to underlie the head of a nursing infant, and provided with a bore centrally disposed in the block and inclined with respect to the flap side of the block so that a baby bottle within the bore will be shielded from the ambient atmosphere and will be retained in an inclined position that places the nipple at the proper height for a nursing infant. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the baby bottle holder in position of use with a baby bottle supported therein.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view partly in elevation illustrating the relationship between the bottle and the body of the baby bottle holder.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The baby bottle holder of the invention comprises a monolithic block designated generally by the numeral 2, and

having a bottom 3 a top 4 inclined as shown with respect to the bottom, an end 6, and left and right sides 7 and 8, respectively.

The top of the block merges smoothly with a front wall or side 9 formed with a bore 12 therein that extends back through the block and is closed at one end 13 next adjacent the end wall 6 of the block. The longitudinal axis of the bore is generally parallel to the inclined top of the block. The diameter of the bore is preferably slightly less than the diameter of a standard baby bottle or infant feeding unit 14 so that when the bottle is inserted into the bore the foamlike polyurethane material adjacent the container is compressed slightly so as to impose a resilient frictional resistance on the bottle to prevent its inadvertent withdrawal. Additionally, such foamlike material substantially surrounds the bottle, thus thermally insulating the container from the ambient atmosphere. Since it is customary to feed infants with milk or other food products which have a temperature above ambient, the insulating qualities of the surrounding support block tend to prevent the loss of heat by the milk contained within the baby bottle.

When infants nurse from a bottle a tugging action occurs that tends to dislodge the bottle from its support which, as discussed above, customarily comprises one or more diapers or towels either wrapped about the bottle or rolled and placed beneath the bottle to form a support. Such tugging action frequently causes dislodgment of the bottle so that it rolls away from the baby, thus making it impossible for him to continue the feeding process. Such tenuous connection between the infant and the bottle results in the milk within the container being spilled or dribbled onto the bedclothes to create an unsanitary condition that can be rectified only by removing the bedclothes and washing the milk therefrom. Because of the nature of the food product, it is frequently impossible to remove the odor thereof from the bedclothes, with the result that unpleasant odors persist even after washing the bedclothes.

To diminish the possibility of milk soiling the bedclothes, the baby bottle holder of the invention is provided with a moisture absorbent integral flap 16 extending from the front surface or wall 9 of the block and extending sufficiently therefrom so that during the interval of feeding the infants cheek will lie on the top surface 17 of the flap, thus making it difficult for the infant to withdraw the nipple from his mouth, and being in position to absorb any leakage of milk that might occur. The flap is preferably formed from the same material from which the block is formed and is integral therewith, and has a thickness to adequately cushion and properly support the infant in nursing position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be novel and sought to be protected by Letters Patents is as follows:

l. A baby bottle holder comprising:

a. a block of thermally insulating moisture absorbent material having a blind bore formed therein proportioned in depth to accommodate the full length of the baby bottle, said bore being centrally disposed in said block and inclined with respect to at least one side of the block whereby when said block is supported on said side a baby bottle retained in said bore is inclined toward its open end; and

b. an integral moisture absorbent flap on said block projecting from one end thereof and associated with the open end of said bore. 

1. A baby bottle holder comprising: a. a block of thermally insulating moisture absorbent material having a blind bore formed therein proportioned in depth to accommodate the full length of the baby bottle, said bore being centrally disposed in said block and inclined with respect to at least one side of the block whereby when said block is supported on said side a baby bottle retained in said bore is inclined toward its open end; and b. an integral moisture absorbent flap on said bloCk projecting from one end thereof and associated with the open end of said bore. 